Pocket wallet protector



Sept. 6, 1938. Y -rm JR 2,129,018

POCKET WALLET PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 7, 1937 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a pocket wallet protector and more particularly to a device adapted to be carried by the wallet and adapted to fasten the wallet within a pocket to prevent the wallet from being accidentally lost or stolen.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device adapted to be readily attached to a conventional form of mans wallet without the aid of any fastening means or which may be built into a wallet as a permanent part thereof, and in which device is arranged apair of adjustable slidebars each projecting from an end of the device and each further provided with a rubber tip, the construction being such that in the unlocked position of the slide-bars the same will press the rubber tips against the lining of the pocket to thus hold the wallet securely in place.

A further object of the invention relates to the construction of a novel latching mechanism arranged within the device for locking and unlocking the slide-bars. 7

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the protector device attached to a wallet.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the protector device, with parts of the latching mechanism shown in section.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the twopart telescoping casing for the protector device.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the several parts of the latching mechanism and the slide-bars prior to assembly of the same.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l9 indicates a conventional form of mans wallet to which at the folded end thereof is attached the protector device ii. The protector device ll constitutes a separate unit and is housed within a two part metallic casing l2 and I3, the casing part 93 having a projecting end part M of reduced dimensions complemental in form to the open end l5 of the casing part l2 so as to snugly and tightly fit thereon in telescoping relation. The outer end of each casing part is provided with an end wall it provided with a square or rectangular opening I! for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Preferably the width of the casing parts l2--I3 is such as to substantially equal the folded thickness of the wallet, see Figure 1, and in their telescoped relation the length of the casing parts l2, i8 is substantially equal to the width of the wallet.

In their telescoped relation the open edge iii of the casing part l2 abuts the shoulder E9 of the casing part l3 to form aneat line of jointure as at 20 of said casing parts. In order to provide a snug seat for the folded end ll of the wallet H], the upper or top wall 22 of both casing parts l2, i3 is formed of concave curvature as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Housed with the casing parts l2, it are the slide-bars 25 and 25 and a locking or latching mechanism indicated generally in Figure 2 as at 2'1.

The latching mechanism is essentially made up of a channel guide 28, a sliding latch box 29 and a latch box guide 36.

The channel guide 28 is formed of a tubular metallic body square or rectangular in crosssection the ends of which are adapted to abut the end walls E6 of the casing parts 52-!3, when in their telescoped relation. Formed in each of the side walls 3! of the channel guide 28 inwardly from each end thereof are slots 32 of equal length and in the same horizontal axial plane of the channel guide 28. Extending downwardly into the middle of the side walls if from the top wall a 33 of the channel guide 28 are vertical parallel slots 34 equally spaced fromthe vertical center plane normal to the axis of the channel guide 28.

The slide-bars 25 and 25 are of a cross-sectional shape such as to snugly fit within the channel guide 28 for sliding movement thereon. The slide-bars 25 and 26 are identical and each is formed with a rounded end and a transverse slot 31 in the top thereof adjacent said rounded end as clearly shown in Figure l. Suitably projecting transversely through the slide bar at a predetermined point in the length thereof is a pin 38 adapted for movement in the slots 32 of the channel guide 28, the projecting ends of the pin 38 being adapted to extend outwardly of said slots. At the outer end of each slide-bar 25, 26 is removably attached in any desired manner, a rubber tip 39.

The latch box 29 is formed of metal in the shape of an open ended box, the side walls til of which are formed with an opening ill through which the channel guide 28 is adapted to extend. The opening M is so formed and positioned in each side wall til, that the upper edge 32 thereof is adapted to enter the slots 34 in the channel guide 28, it being obvious that the distance between the side walls 36 is equal to the distance between the slots t l. In order to permit vertical movement of the edge portions t2 which constitute the latch, in and out of the slots 35, the

height of the latch box 29 exceeds by a substantial amount the width of the side walls 35 of the channel guide 28.

Guiding the latch box 29 in its vertical movement is the latch box guide 30 which is in the form of an inverted U-shaped metallic member comprising a top 44 and parallel side walls 45 spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the latch box 29 so that the side walls 45 thereof will slidably engage and be guided by the inside surface of the guide side walls 45. Formed in each side wall 45 in registering relation is an opening 46 of the same cross-sectional dimensions as that of the channel guide 28 which is adapted to extend therethrough. Both the top wall 44 of the guide 30 and top wall of the latch box 29 are provided with centrally disposed lugs 4'! and 48 respectively, which in the assembled relation of the latch box 29 within the latch guide 35 are in opposed relation so as to center as mall compression coil spring 55. Adapted for threaded engagement with the opening 5| in the bottom wall 52 of the latch box is a threaded stem 53 of a push button 54.

To assemble the latch mechanism with relation to the slide bars 25, 25, the rubber tips 39 are first removed and each slide bar is inserted through its respective opening il in the end wall iii of its respective casing part. The latch box 29 is then assembled within the latch guide 35 with the coil spring 55 positioned over the centering lugs 4'! and 48. With the openings 4! and 45 in registry, the channel guide 28 is inserted through said openings to a point where the latch portions 42 of the latch box 29 will engage the slots 34 under the action of the spring 55. In this relationship, a coil spring 55 and 51 is slipped over each end of the channel guide, and the casing parts i2 and i3 telescoped together, the slide bars 25 and 25 carried thereby respectively entering the slots 32 in the ends of the channel guide 28 with the pins 38 bearing on the outer ends of the coil springs 55 and 51, the inner ends of which springs seat on the side Walls 45 of the latch guide 30. In order to permit the assembly of the stem 53- with the bottom wall. 52 of the latch box 29, the bottom edge it of the casing part I2 is formed with a semicircular opening 55 which coacts with a slotted opening 6!, see Figure 2, formed in the bottom Wall of the reduced extension i4. Thus the stem 53 may be inserted through the openings for attachment to the latch box 29, or if the stem is permanently afiixed to the bottom wall 52, the opening 60 and slotted opening BI in extension It will permit the assembly of the parts.

The outer ends of the curved top wall 22 of each casing part i2 and iii are provided with a suitable spring clip 53 for attaching the protector device to the wallet Hi. It is to be understood that if desired the protector device may be built in to constitute an integral permanent part of the wallet.

With the protector device ll assembled with the wallet ID, the slide bars 25 and 26 are first locked in the innermost position by the latching mechanism, by simply pushing both of them in simultaneously. The rounded ends 35 of the slide bars entering the openings 4! in the latch box 29 will raise the same until the transverse slots 3'! come into registry with the latch edge portion 42 and the slots 34 in the channel guide whereupon the latch box will be moved down under the action of the spring 50 to thus enable the latch edge portions 42 to enter the slots 31 of the slide bars 25 and 26 to thereby lock the same in position. This inward movement or" the slide bars 25 and 25 will compress the springs 55 and 51 and in their locked position will maintain the springs under compression.

Having thus locked the slide bars "25 and 25 the wallet is ready for insertion into a pocket whereby when the push button 54 engages the base of the pocket it will raise the stern thus raising the latch box 29 to release the. slide bars and 25 which under the action of the springs '55 and 51 will move outward to force the rubber tips 39 on the ends thereof into engagement with the lining of the pocket, thus securely holding the wallet the pocket. To remove the wallet from the pocket the rubber tips may be engaged by the fingers outside of the pocket to press the slide bars inwardly to be automatically locked in the manner as above described. The wallet can then be removed freely from the pocket.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A theft and loss preventing device for an article adapted to be carried in the pocket of a garment, comprising a casing adapted to be detachably secured to a part of said article and wholly outside thereof, a channel guide within said casing and engaging the ends thereof, a slide bar extending into each end of said channel guide and projecting outwardly of each end of said casing, a latch mechanism carried by said channel guide and cooperating with the adjacent ends of said slide bars to lock the same against outward movement when in their innermost position, a pair of springs surrounding the channel guide one on each side of said latch mechanism and each engaging a slide bar to move the same outwardly of said casing, and a plunger extending outwardly of said casing operatively connected to said latch mechanism for moving the same to affect the release of said slide bars from their locked position when said article is completely placed within said pocket.

2. In the theft and loss preventing device as set forth in claim 1, including a rubber tip carried by the outwardly projecting end of each slide-bar, said rubber tips adapted upcn the release of said slide bars under the action of said springs to engage the lining of said pocket for locking said article therein.

3. A theft and loss preventing device adapted for exterior attachment to an article which is carried in a pocket of a garment, comprising a separable telescoping casing having end walls, a channel guide arranged longitudinally within said casing with its ends abutting said casing end walls, a latch guide mounted on the center part of said channel guide, a latch box within said latch guide surrounding said channel guide adapted for vertical movement within said latch guide transversely of said channel guide, a plunger connected to the lower part of said latch box extending downwardly and out of said casing, a spring arranged between the top of said latch box and the top of said latch guide for urging said latch box downwardly, and a pair of slide bars extending inwardly through openings in the casing end walls each into a respective end of said channel guide for sliding movement therein, means on the adjacent ends of said slide bars adapted to be engaged by means on said latch box to lock said slide bars in their innermost position relative to said channel guide and casing, a coil spring for each slide bar surrounding, said channel guide each seated on its inner end against said latch guide and on its outer end on a part of said slide bar for urging said slide bars apart for movement outwardly through the end walls of said casing, the arrangement and construction of said parts being such that when said article is completely placed within said pocket the plunger will be forced upwardly into said casing to raise said latch box thereby aifecting a disengagement of the locking means thereon with the locking means on the adjacent ends of said slide bars whereby said slide bars will be released to move outwardly so that the outer ends of said slide bars will engage the lining of said pocket to lock said article therein.

4. In a theft and loss preventing device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the terminal outer ends of said slide bars are each provided with a detachable rubber tip, and a spring clip: carried on each casing part for detachably securing said casing to said article.

5. In a theft and loss preventing device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said channel guide comprises a tube square in cross section, the side walls thereof being each provided inwardly from each end with a slot, a transverse pin projecting from each side of each said slide bar for sliding movement in said slots, said pins extending outwardly of said slots and providing abutment means seating the outer ends of said coil springs.

6. In a theft and loss preventing device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said latch guide corn,- prises a top wall and depending side walls each provided with an opening through which said channel guide extends, said channel guide being of tubular form square in cross section and provided at its center with spaced parallel vertical slots extending downwardly into the sides of said channel guide from the top thereof, said latch box being formed with openings in the sides thereof through which said channel guide extends with the upper edge portion of said latch box openings forming said lock means thereon.

adapted to fit into the vertical slots of said channel guide for vertical movement in and out of the same, transverse slots provided in the adja' cent ends of said slide bars which constitute the lock means thereon and when brought into registry with the slots in said channel guide are adapted to receive the upper edge portion of said latch box openings to aifect said locking of the slide bars within said channel guide.

7. A theft and loss preventing device for a wallet, comprising a two part tubular casing connected together in telescoped relation, a slide bar carrying a rubber tip extending substantially axially outwardly from each end of said casing, automatic latching and releasing means within said casing for locking said slide bars in their innermost position to permit insertion and removal of said wallet into a pocket of a garment and for releasing said slide bars to engage the lining of said pocket when the wallet is completely inserted therein, said casing having its top side wall concavely curved to provide a seat for one end of said wallet, and spring clips on said curved top of said casing arranged to detachably secure said casing to said end of said Wallet.

PAUL M. MARTINI, JR. 

